Multiple-stage ejector



R. N. EHRHAR T. MULTIPLE STAGE EJECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8. I9I7- 1,397,924, Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

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INVEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND N. EHRHART, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST-DIGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING 00., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

MULTIPLE-STAGE EJECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Application filed October 18, 1917. Serial No. 197,362.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, RAYMOND N. EHR- HART, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new anduseful Invention in Multiple-Stage Ejectors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to ejector apparatus and particularly to suchapparatus capable of operating in withdrawing non-condensa-ble fluidsfrom a condenser or similar receptacle in which a relatively high vacuumis maintained.

An object of the invention is to produce an effective ejector apparatuswhich operates on expansive motive fluid, is of simple construction,efficient in operation and capable of being employed for withdrawingnon-condensable fluids from a condenser.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent throughout thefurther description of my invention, are attained by means of apparatusembodying the features herein described and illustrated in the drawingaccompanying and forming a part hereof.

In the drawing I have diagrammatically illustrated an ejector apparatusembodying my invention and shown in section in con nection with afragmental sectional view of a condenser.

As illustrated, the apparatus consists of a plurality of steam actuatedejectors adapted to operate in series and provided with inter coolers orcondensers arranged between the ejectors of the series.

Referring to the drawing, the air offtake port 3 of the condenser shell4 communicates with the inlet of the ejector apparatus. As shown, theejector apparatus includes three ejectors 5, 6 and 7, each comprising afluid delivery nozzle 8 and a diffuser tube 9. The nozzle 8 ispreferably divergent and adapted to expand the motive fluid (hereintermed steam) traversing it to the pressure normally existing at itsoutlet, or within the inlet to the ejector which it serves. As shown,each nozzle 8 projects into a combining chamber 10, which communicateswith the inlet end of the diffuser and which is provided with an inletport 11. Each nozzle is shown axially alined with its cooperatingdiffuser 9, or so located with reference to the diffuser that the streamof motive fluid issuing from it is discharged into and through thediffuser. As illustrated, the outlet of the diffuser forming a part ofthe ejector 5 communicates with a receptacle or chamber 12, which may betermed an intercooler or condenser. Means are employed within thechamber 12 for condensing the condensable fluids issuing from theejector 5. As shown, cooling or condensing water is introduced into thereceptacle 12 by means of a spray nozzle 13, which is preferably solocated that the fluids issuing from the outlet of the ejector aresubjected to the cooling action of the water by being intimately mixedwith it.

Besides operating as a collecting chamber for the water issuing from thenozzle 13 and the condensate resulting from the condensation of thecondensable fluids such as the steam and vapor issuing from the ejector,the chamber 12 forms a means of communication between the ejectors 5 and6. As shown, the chamber 12 is provided with a passage 14 whichcommunicates directly with the inlet port 11 of the ejector 6. Theoutlet of the ejector 6 communicates with a chamber 15 similar to thechamber 12 and which forms a means of communication between the ejectors6 and 7. The ejector 7 discharges into a chamber 16 similar to thechamber 12 and which may communicate directly with the atmosphere, witha fourth ejector or with any type of air pump. Both the chambers 15 and16 are shown provided with spray nozzles 13 and both operate to collectthe cooling liquid and condensate.

The ejector 5 partially compresses the fluids withdrawn from thecondenser and consequently the pressure within the chamber 12 is higherthan that within the condensen- By taking advantage of this superiorpressure I am able to dispose of the liquid collected within the chamber12. As illustrated, I provide a pipe or passage 17 which is adapted toform a manometric connection between the chamber 12 and the condenser.As shown, the inlet of the passage 17 is so located that it is normallybelowthe level of the liquid'contained within the chamber 12 and thepassage is so arranged as to maintain a column of water between thechamber 12 and the condenser, which is capable of counterbalancing thesuperior pressure of the chamber 12 over that of the condenser, and atthe same time is capable of discharging the excess water from thechamber 12 into the condenser. As illustrated, the passage 17 extendsupwardly so waterlevel within the chamber 15 and the outlet end soarranged as to discharge into the passage 14:. With this arrangement,the passage 18 not only discharges excess water from the chamber 15, butdischarges the water in such a way as to insure the condensation ofsteamleaving the chamber 12 and entering the passage 14.

It will, of course, be understood that any type of condenser may beemployed as intercooler between adjacent ejcctors and that a pluralityof steam delivery nozzles maybe employed for expanding and deliveringthe steam to each ejector. Exhaust steam may be employed as the motivefluid for the ejectors and,if desired, each ejector may receive motivefluid from a. separate source.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows The ejector 5 withdrawsnon-condens able fluids from the condenser and partially compressesthese fluids in delivering them to the chamber 12; The steam issuingfrom the ejector 5 is condensed within the chamber 12 or in itspassagefrom that chamber to theejector G. The ejector 6 receives the partiallycompressed non-condensible' fluid and further compresses it indelivering it to the chamber 15. The steam issuing from the ejector 6 iscondensed within the chamber 15 or within the passage 14-. and non-condensable' fluid from the chamber 15' is delivered to the ejector 7. Theejector 7 fur ther compresses the fluid and delivers'it to theatmosphere or to additional compressing V apparatus. The difference inpressure between the chambers 15 and 16 occas1ons the discharge of waterfrom the chamber 16 to thechamber 15 and the diflerencein pressurebetween the chambers 12 and 15 operate to occasion the discharge of theexcess water from the chamber 15 into the chamber 12, from which allexcess water is discharged into-the condenser and through the passage17", as has been described.

While I have described and illustrated-but one embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges, modifications, additions, and omissions may be made in theapparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and, scope ofthe invention, as set forthby the' appended claims.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In combination in a multi-stage ejector apparatus, a plurality ofejectors operating in series, intercoolers between adjacent ejectors ofthe series, and manometric connections between adjacent intercoolers fordis.- charging excess liquid from one intercooler to an intercooler'oflower pressure.

2. In combination in a multistage ejector, a plurality of ejectorsoperating in series, each ejector of the series discharging into acondenser, with which the inlet of another ejector of the seriescommunicates, and manometric connections between adjacent condensers fordelivering liquid from condensers of high pressure to condensers oflower-pres sure.

-' 3. In combination in a multi-stage ejector, an ejector, the inlet ofwhich communicates with a source of fluid to be ejected, an intercoolercommunicating with the discharge of said. ejector, a second ejectorcommunicating with the intercooler, and a second i'ntercoolercommunicating with the discharge of said secondejector, and amanometric-connection between the. intercooler for delivering excessliquid.

4. In combination with a condenser, a plurality of ejectors operating inseries, intercoolers between adjacent ejectors of the series, and meansforming a liquid seal be tween intercoolers for delivering excess liquidfrom one intercooler to anotherand to the condenser.

5. In combination with a condenser, a plurality of ejectors operating inseries, intercoolers-located between adjacent ejectors of the series,and means for delivering cooling water from one intercooler to anotherand finally to the condenser.

6. In combination'in an apparatus of the character described, anejector, a condenser communicating with the outlet thereof, a: secondejector communicating with said condenser, a second condensercommunicating with the outlet of the second ejector, and"- means fordelivering liquid from the second condenser to the communicating passagebetween the first mentioned condenser and the secondejector. 1 r

7 In combination in an apparatus of'the character described, an ejector,a'condenser condenser and the communicating passage between the firstmentioned condenser and liquid in one intercooler may automatically thesecond ejector for delivering liquid from flow to an intercooler oflower pressure. 10 the second condenser to the said passage. Intestimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 8. In combination in amulti-stage ejector scribed my name this 17th day of October, 5apparatus, a pgunalit y oi ejectors operating 1917.

in series, i tercoolers betueen djacent ejec- RAYMOND N. EHRHART. Manes,and means for connecting Witness:

the intercoolers in series whereby excess C. W. MCGHEE.

